Northwestern Staff

Michael Schraa, who lives in the town of Algoma, formally announced his candidacy as a Republican on Tuesday, but he has been registered as a candidate since Oct. 28, according to records filed with the state Government Accountability Board.

Schraa initially announced his intentions to run for office last May during a local business roundtable discussion hosted by Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

Schraa later publicly discussed his candidacy and positions in December during a local conservative TV show, "Oshkosh Area Politics," which is hosted by Oshkosh school board president Ben Schneider II and former Oshkosh mayor Paul Esslinger.

During the show, Schraa stated he decided to run for office after the former Oshkosh teachers' union president encouraged educators to boycott his business because of his support for Walker.

Schraa also said Spanbauer, who voted against Walker's collective bargaining changes, was not a true conservative.